Grading Hardsurfacing on bucket cutting edge

[stevewarner1957]

I recently came into a couple of boxes of hardsurfacing electrodes. My question is: does anyone hardsurface their cutting edges on loader buckets? My 3830 bucket is pristine but I like to weld and I wondered if it was worth it. I would do 45 degree beads on the bottom. And watch for heat warpage. Thoughts?

 

[Smokeydog]

You simply don’t have the hp to worry about on the bucket cutting edge. Maybe if you were running on asphalt or concrete a lot?!? The back drag edge of the bucket could use some.
Played around some with hard surfacing rod with mixed results. Had an old grader blade I thought I could extend the life. Made good welds. Pretty. Till I used it and the stress from welding broke the blade in three pieces. Welded back 7018 and kept using for years.
Success in bush hog side runners, subsoiler, sickle bar skid and anvil repair. Land plane skid runners need it.
Play around and you might figure out a better way. Please share your success and failures that is how we all learn. Enjoy.

 

[stevewarner1957]

Thanks for your input Smokey. I might start with my bush hog runners to start. I’m not sure it’s worth the effort on my loader bucket. It was just a thought

 

[nyone]

The first question is how old are the electrodes and do you have an oven? Those things soak up moisture and become useless.

Since you dont have the HP you will prob be fine with normal welding rod.

Part of the idea behind hardfacing is to make a pattern that will trap material on the bucket so that the material wears and not the bucket. Doing 45* welds will not do this. Weld perpendicular to the normal working direction of the bucket.

 

[stevewarner1957]

The rods are still sealed. Thanks for the tip on the bead placement

 

[3Ts]

I used hardfacing on mower blades when I was mowing grass in a sandy field. Extended the life by a lot. Be sure you rebalance the blades if you do this.